It’s What We See, and Hear, and Speak :: Isaiah 6:1-7
[Introduction]
What would it be like if you knew that you were in the presence of the Holy God?
Would it be awesome? Inspiring? Overwhelming? Frightening?
What would your reaction be? Just another day in the park? Or maybe, WOAH!
Would you stand or fall? Would you be shaking in your boots, or not knowing what to do?
Today is a great day to wonder. Today is Holy Trinity Sunday. Today we get to speak of what we know, and join the praise of the one who died and rose. Today we’re focused on ...
WHAT WE SEE AND HEAR AND SPEAK THROUGH THE EYES AND EARS OF ISAIAH
I. Before we get to what Isaiah saw, let’s pay attention to when he saw it.
It’s the year of the death of the king, Uzziah (v 1). In other words, it’s 740 BC. Uzziah, who is sometimes called Azariah, was 16 when he became king of Judah. He reigned for 52 years! He was mostly a good king ... far from perfect, but good. As 2 Kings 15[:3] says, he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Amaziah had done, except that the high places were not removed. In other words, they didn’t do it the way God said. They worshiped on their own time, their own way, on their own mountaintop altars.
The first half of Uzziah’s reign was filled with peace, expansion, and prosperity ... a silver age in the Kingdom of Judah. He built towers and wells. He had a lot of cattle. And he loved the soil. And his kingdom became rich. The people filled their homes with luxuries ... songs ... and dancing. And as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper (2 Chr 26:5).
But as 2 Chronicles 26 tells us, Uzziah became proud of his work. And that pride led him to enter the Temple without proper humility before God. He tried to usurp the priests in their role in the temple. So the Lord struck him with leprosy, and he was leprous until he died. His illness, the consequence of pride, made Uzziah sick ... ritually unclean ... unable to fulfill his public duties. And to make matters worse, the country of Assyria was threatening to knock down the door. Then he died.
Now, it’s at this moment of fear that Isaiah sees what his heart needs to see most. In the year of Uzziah’s death, God opened Isaiah’s eyes to see his Lord ... not just any Lord, but literally, my Lord ... Adonai ... one of the titles for God. Isaiah saw the King who never dies ... the King whose rule never ends. Isaiah saw the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, your Lord, my Lord.
II. [What Isaiah saw]
Isaiah says, I saw My Lord sitting upon a throne, exalted and lifted up. Seraphim were standing above him. Each one had six wings: With two, [each one] covered his face; and with two, [each one] covered his feet; and with two [each one] flew (vv 2-3).
Isaiah’s vision is not the only one in scripture describing this scene. First, note, this is the temple ... the place where God meets man and heaven meets earth. We are seeing the place of Atonement. God is on his throne surrounded by heavenly host and all the saints.
Saint John provides a similar picture with more detail. In Revelation 4, the throne has the appearance of jasper and sardius, both of which are gems that are primarily red and yellow. As the light flashes illuminates their beauty, so too does the majesty of the glory of God. Ezekiel adds that this throne is surrounded by brilliant light that looks like a rainbow (Eze 1:28).
Meanwhile, our Lord’s robe is filling the temple, coming down. These robes are by no means plain. Exodus 28 describes the hems being decorated with pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarn with bells of gold. When those bells ring, it lets the people know our Great High Priest is in the Holy Place (Ex 28:33-35). That’s a good thing. Atonement is being made.
And it’s not all we see. We see God seated. And standing near him, as servants, are two seraphim. The word “seraphim” is related to the word for burning ... glowing. Seraphim are mysterious beings who communicate to Isaiah that he has entered the presence of a Holy God. Each of these seraphim have six wings. With two [each one] covered his face ... a sign that for even these holy creatures, God’s holiness puts him in a class of his own, leaving even these servants of the Most High unworthy to gaze directly at our God. And with two [wings, each one] covered his feet ... another sign of God’s worthiness as creator. In hiding their feet, the Seraphim are showing reverence before the one they serve. And with two [each one] flew ... they’re going to and fro ... in eternal worship ... serving God day and night.
III. [What Isaiah hears.]
What Isaiah hears further enhances what we’ve already seen. Isaiah says he heard one [of the seraphim calling to the other, saying]: ‘Holy, holy, holy is YHWH SaVaOath ... the Lord of Hosts ... the Lord of Armies, if you prefer ... All the earth is full of his glory!’ In singing what we know as the Te Deum ... which is short for Te Deum laudamus, or the Latin words for “We Praise Thee, O God” ... the intensity of this vision is building ... just like what happens here every Lord’s Day during the Divine Service. The threefold acclamation of holiness acknowledges the Triune God, praising and magnifying the Holy One of Israel.
These Seraphim are announcing ... proclaiming ... the nature of the King they serve ... Holy, Holy, Holy. The Lord is holy in himself. Holiness is who he is. Everything about him is Holy, perfect in goodness and righteousness. It is His nature, His character ... what we long to be.
Then the angel says, the whole earth is full of his glory! The connection here is that if God’s worthiness is truly as great this verse says it is ... then it is fitting that the display of his worthiness goes global ... every Lord’s Day. ... NO ONE is more deserving of fame, worship, and recognition than God ... the Holy, Holy, Holy One who serves us.
IV. And yet, as we will now see, there is a barrier for both Isaiah and the whole world.
The foundations of the thresholds shook at the one proclaiming, and smoke (of incense) filled the house (v 4), partially obscuring the glory. ... Do you remember what happened when our Lord ... my Lord ... your Lord ... was nailed to a cross? Lifted up high ... exalted ... on a cross for all the world to see? We hid our eyes. And Saint Matthew writes, when Jesus again cried out in a loud voice, he released his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was split, from top to bottom in two. And the earth was shaken, and the foundations were split. The tombs were opened. And many of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised (27:50-52). ... When the centurion and those with him guarding Jesus saw the earthquake, and what happened, they were filled with exceeding reverential fear, saying, Amen! This was the Son of God! (27:54).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, this is how God makes himself known! What else is the glory of God but making it known ... proclaiming salvation ... that our Lord Jesus Christ has lived for you, died for you, was buried for you, and now he is risen! ... He is Risen, Indeed! Hallelujah! ... And it is for you! Jesus is the one lifted up and exalted ... in glory!
V. Now consider where you are and what we should do (v 5).
Though we ... like Isaiah ... were dead in our sin, iniquity, and trespasses ... though we ... like Isaiah ... are men and women of unclean lips, dwelling in the midst of a people of unclean lips (v 5) ... Jesus has taken away your sin, iniquity, and transgression ... that is, he has taken away your foolish talk, gossip, slander, backbiting, blasphemy ... sins of the mouth that make you unclean ... sins that deserve damnation ... like all of our other sins. But on account of the blood, the atonement of Jesus, you are forgiven. God has removed your sin as far as the east is from the west. As Isaiah says, One of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a coal. With tongs, he had taken it from the altar. And he touched it upon my mouth and said, Look at this! This has touched your lips. Your inquiry is removed. And your sin is atoned (vv 6-7).
Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is no coal in all of scripture that is like the one that touched the lips of Isaiah. Leviticus 16:12 describes burning coals on the altar ... but that is not this one. Isaiah 44:12 and 54:16 describe burning coals on the refiner’s fire ... but again that is not this one. The Hebrew word for this coal carried by the fiery angel touching the mouth of Isaiah does not appear anywhere else in all of scripture. Nothing is like it!
In other words, it’s just like the Gospel ... which is meant to be seen, and heard, and spoken!
There is no other Gospel that takes away your guilt but the Gospel of Jesus. There is no other Gospel that atones for your sin. Our great High Priest ... our Lord Jesus Christ ... your Lord, My Lord ... has in every way been tempted as we are, yet without sin. He suffered alone for our sin, shedding his blood for the forgiveness of sins. He entered the Holiest of Holies, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own, thus securing an eternal redemption for you (Hb 9:12). He has redeemed you ... purifying you through Holy Baptism, uniting you in his death and his resurrection, giving you his inheritance ... eternal life. He has clothed you in his garments of his righteousness so that you are welcomed into his Supper.
Therefore, hear his Gospel and believe it. See his Gospel, in the font and on the altar. Let his body and blood touch your lips. Your iniquity is taken away. Your sin is removed. You are forgiven and free.
[Conclusion]
This is the day the Lord made for Isaiah to see and hear and speak of. And what an amazing thing it is when you see and hear and speak the Gospel, too. Like Isaiah, you and I have been called, gathered, enlightened, and sanctified by our Holy God to do this. So sing the angelic song of praise and fill the earth with His Gospel. Christ is risen! ... In Jesus’ name. Amen.